With whom should you connect?

When it comes to the various social media platforms, a common question I am often asked is whom to connect with? Here are my recommendations:

• Anyone requesting to connect with you who has initiated such request. However, they must be genuine and credible. A quick look at their profile should help determine such.
• Clients.
• Past clients.
• Prospective clients.
• Executives in organizations.
• Journalists.
• Colleagues and professional business acquaintances.
• Interesting individuals in groups you belong to and others asking and answering questions.
• Popular bloggers and thought leaders.
• Competitors.